From addiction to advocacy: Matthew Chaffin’s journey to helping others

Matthew Chaffin never imagined he would be standing in the hallway during a class break at Ohio University Chillicothe, chatting with a high school student about everything from fantasy football to overcoming addiction. Yet, that moment—one of his proudest since starting college—perfectly represents his transformation from struggling with addiction to becoming a mentor and advocate for those seeking support for recovery and mental health issues.

Chaffin earned his associate degree in applied science in Human Service Technology in 2024 and is now a pre-social work major. He works as a treatment coordinator at Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center. His role is multifaceted, involving everything from treatment planning and group facilitation to helping to manage sober living houses.

“I assist my director, make decisions about treatment placements, and help oversee our sober living houses,” Chaffin said. “My job is different every day because of the needs of our clients.”

Chaffin has applied for his Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor certification, which gives the authority to practice substance use disorder counseling as well as diagnose and treat substance use disorder conditions.

His path to a career supporting others in their recovery has been anything but straightforward.

“I’m a recovering addict,” he said. “I’ve been in recovery for seven years. Before that I had no education.”

Encouraged by his wife, Molly, a recent graduate of Ohio University Chillicothe, Chaffin earned his GED and took the next step—college. Initially, he was nervous about becoming a student again.

“I was scared to death,” he said. “One of my big fears was going to class with a bunch of kids. I’m almost 40 years old.”

Fortunately, the support from his professors made all the difference and he came to enjoy and appreciate his interactions with students nearly half his age.

“Dr. (Mary Jane) Preece made me feel comfortable from day one,” he said. “Miss Parker helped me with writing. Mr. Smart, who teaches statistics, stayed after class to help me. Dr. Hernandez, my sociology professor, even let me take written exams instead of multiple-choice because she saw I could explain concepts better that way. That’s when I knew I could graduate.”

Associate Professor of Instruction Mary Jane Preece said Chaffin has done a great job learning to balance self-care with his passion for helping others.

“It is a very tough balance, but he works at it everyday,” Preece said. “From the moment I met Matt, he kept me on my toes as a professor. He is a brilliant soul, asked the tough questions, always engaged, and took his courses seriously. He had tough times, but was determined to get through so he could help others out in the field.”

Chaffin said his OHIO education has helped equip him with the skills and knowledge he needs to serve others in his role.

“I’m learning things in class, and then I see them happen at work,” he said, explaining that he gets to see and apply the concepts he learns in the classroom when he goes to work each day. He said he has also been able to leverage communication tools that he has learned when working with clients to help them feel at ease.

Balancing full-time work and school has been a challenge for Chaffin, but one he has handled with the support of faculty, family, and classmates.

“I hear everybody’s problems all day, then go home and do homework,” he said. “There were times I wanted to quit. I’d tell other students not to work full-time and go to school full-time if they can avoid it. It gets overwhelming.”

Chaffin’s passion for helping people keeps him going.

“I love helping people,” he said. “And my education is teaching me how to do it better.”

For students considering a career in social services or social work, Chaffin offers advice based on experience.

“There are going to be long, hard days,” he said. “But when you see someone get control of their mental health or substance abuse, it’s rewarding in a way that nothing else is.”

Despite the challenges that each new class brings, Chaffin is proud of his progress.

“Sometimes I’m intimidated, but I push through,” he said. “It feels good when someone says you’re doing a good job. My professors have been amazing, and I’ve learned so much. I hope I can be a role model for my classmates and show them that no matter where you start, you can make a difference.”